DUSHANBE, June 17, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Hassan Rouhani, who reportedly favors a policy of political openness as well as re-establishing relations with the west, won the presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran that took place on June 14.

Some international media sources report that he is likely to soothe international tension.  Western officials have described Hassan Rouhani as an “experienced diplomat and politician” and “fair to deal with.”

Iran''s Interior Minister, Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar, announced on state television on Saturday night that 72% of 50 million eligible Iranians had voted, and Rouhani had won just over the 50% of the vote required to avoid a runoff.

In reaction to a likely Rouhani victory, the Iranian national currency, the rial, reportedly recovered in value against the dollar by at least 6% on Saturday.  Later on Saturday night, Rouhani issued a statement on television, saying “a new season of solidarity” had begun following a result that brought “rationality and moderation” as well as “peace, stability and hope.”

The country''s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, congratulated Hassan Rouhani.  Tehran''s mayor, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, also conceded defeat by sending a congratulatory message to the president-elect.  Other candidates did the same.

Hassan Rouhani (born Hassan Feridoun on November 12, 1948) is an Iranian politician, Mujtahid, lawyer, academic and diplomat, who is currently the President-elect of Iran. He has been a member of the Assembly of Experts since 1999, member of the Expediency Council since 1991, member of the Supreme National Security Council since 1989, and head of the Center for Strategic Research since 1992.

Rouhani has been also deputy speaker of the 4th and 5th terms of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005.  In the later capacity, he was also heading Iran''s former nuclear negotiating team and was the country''s top negotiator with the EU three – UK, France, and Germany – on Iran''s nuclear program.

On May 7, 2013, Rouhani registered for the presidential election that was held on 14 June 2013.  He said that, if elected, he will prepare a "civil rights charter", restore the economy and improve rocky relations with the West.  As early vote counts began coming in, Rouhani took a large lead.  He was elected as President of Iran on June 15, defeating Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.  He is scheduled to take office on 3 August 2013.